Carrier for can-washing machines



H. D. LATHROP.

CARRIER FOR CAN WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED ma. la, 19x9.

1,336,568, Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

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HARRY D. LATI-IROP, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CARRIE-R FOR CAN-WASHING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Application filed March 18, 1918. Serial No. 223,218.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY D. LA'rHnoP,a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carriers for Can-Washing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in can washing machines of the type designed for use especially in the cleaning of milk and cream cans.

The object of my invention is the production of a carrier for cans of the character mentioned, through the medium of which cans of various sizes may be passed through the machine and cleaned with the same ease and expedition as cans of the size the machine was originally built to accommodate.

A further object is the production of a carrier as mentioned, which will be of durable and economical construction and efficient in use.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

- The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings and in forming a part of this specification, which,

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section through the lower portion of a can washing machine equipped with a can carrier embodying the invention,

Fi 2, an enlarged section taken on sul stantially line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3, a top plan view of the carrier detached.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawings is designed for use especially in connection with a can washing machine embodying a frame 4 having guide bars 5 therein on which the cans are adapted to slide in the passage thereof through the machine. At the sides of guide bars 5 are overhanging inwardly projecting flanges 6.

The carrier forming the subject-matter of this invention comprises a rectangular base 7 which is adapted, when in use. to rest and slide upon the guide bars 5 with its edges engaging under the flanges 6.

Arising substantially centrally from the base 7. is an upwardly tapering member 8 over which the mouth of a can J to be sup ported, is adapted to engage, as seen in Fig. 1. Projecting laterally from the member 8 are two vertically spaced parallel fingers 10 between which the handle 11 of the cover 12 of the can supported upon the carrier is adapted to be inserted, in order to support the cover over an opening 13 formed in the carrier.

The carrier is tubular in form, that is a passage is formed therethrough which com municates at its upper end with the interior of the can supported, and with the inner or underside of the cover through the opening 13. This being the case, in the passage of the carrier along the guide bars 5, the cleansing fluid discharged from the nozzles 14 which are arranged at intervals between the guide bars 5, will pass upwardly into the interior of the can and the underside of the cover, serving to effectually cleanse the same. The can frictionally engages with the tapering member 8 of the carrier, whereby the former is serurel held upon the carrier, the tapering form 0 said portion 8 also permitting of the employment thereof in connection with cans of various sizes, that is cans provided with mouths of various diameters. .lhe engagement of the base 7 of the carrier under the flanges 6, serves to hold the carrier against tipping under the influence of the weight of the can sup orted thereby, said flanges positively insuring the passage of the carrier through the machine in upright position. The carrier is moved through the machine through the medium of the pivoted pawls 15 carried by reciprocatory feed bars 16 which are positioned between guide bars 5, this method of feeding or propulsion being however not claimed as the new in this application.

While I have illustrated and described preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into eflect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A washing gnidcway: means rdllli guideway:

machine comprising a for feeding articles along ets arranged to in ect a cleansing fluid into said articles feeding along said guideway; and tubular carriers readily removable from or insertible onto said guideway and arranged to receive and support cans or the like thereon, substantially as described.

2. A washing machine comprising a guideway; means for feeding articles along said guideway; jets arranged to inject a cleansing fluid into said articles feeding along said guideway; and upwardly tapering tubular carriers readily removable from or insertible onto said guideway and arranged to receive and support cans or the like thereon, substantially as described.

3. A can washing machine comprising a guideway; means for feeding cans along said guideway; jets arranged to inject cleansing fluid into said cans feeding along said guidcway; and tubular can carriers readily removable from or insertible onto said guideway and arranged to receive and support cans or the like thereon, said carriers being provided at one side with a can cover support, and there being an opening therein under said support. giving access to a cover supported thereon, substantially as described.

4. A washing machine comprising a guideway; pivoted reciprocatory pawls for sliding articles along said guideway; jets arranged to iiiject cleansing fluid into said articles feeding along said guideway: and upwardly tapering tubular carriers sliding along and readily removable from or insertible onto said guidewa y and arranged to support and receive cans or the like thereon, each of said carriers being provided at one side with a laterally extending support adapted to receive and support a can cover, there being an opening in the 'arrier under said support giving access to said cover, substantially as described.

5. In a machine of the class described. a can carrier adapted to support a can in inverted position in the movement of the can through the machine; and a pair of spaced laterally projecting fingers on said carrier for supporting a 'an cover. there being a passage through said carrier communicating with the inner sides of the can and cover supported. substantially as described.

6. A can washing machine comprising two parallel supporting guides; reciprocatory members operating adjacent said guides and carrying pivoted pawl arms adapted to engage and feed cans or the like along said guides; one or more jets arranged to inject cleansing fluid upwardly between said guides; and can carriers, each comprising a substantially rectangular base, adapted to slide upon said guideway and provided centrally with an upwardly tapering tubular member having laterally projecting vertically spaced parallel supporting fingers. there being an opening in said upwardly tapering tubular member under said supporting fingers. substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY D. LATHROP.

Witnesses JosHUA R. H. Poms, B. G. RICHARDS. 

